The concept of "Following Man" in the Bible often contrasts with the call to follow God. Throughout Scripture, believers are admonished to prioritize divine guidance over human leadership when the two are in conflict. This entry explores the biblical perspective on following human leaders, the potential pitfalls, and the encouragement to seek God's direction above all.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the Israelites frequently struggled with the temptation to follow human leaders instead of God. This is evident in their demand for a king to lead them, as recorded in 1 Samuel 8:19-20: "But the people refused to listen to Samuel. 'No!' they said. 'We must have a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.'" This desire to follow a human king rather than God Himself led to numerous challenges and deviations from God's intended path for His people.

The prophets often warned against following human wisdom and leaders who did not adhere to God's commandments. Jeremiah 17:5 states, "This is what the LORD says: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes the flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD.'" This verse underscores the danger of placing trust in human leadership over divine guidance.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, the theme of following man versus following Christ is further developed. Jesus Himself called His disciples to follow Him, setting a clear distinction between human and divine leadership. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." This call to follow Christ involves a commitment to prioritize His teachings and example over any human authority.

The Apostle Paul also addressed the issue of following human leaders in the church. In 1 Corinthians 3:4-5, he writes, "For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role." Paul emphasizes that while human leaders have roles within the church, ultimate allegiance belongs to Christ.

Warnings and Encouragements

The Bible provides numerous warnings about the dangers of following human leaders who lead people away from God's truth. In Matthew 15:14, Jesus warns, "Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." This metaphor highlights the peril of following leaders who lack spiritual insight.

Conversely, Scripture encourages believers to follow leaders who themselves are following Christ. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul exhorts, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." This indicates that following human leaders is appropriate when they are aligned with Christ's teachings and example.

Conclusion

The biblical narrative consistently points to the importance of discerning whom to follow. While human leaders can provide guidance and support, the ultimate call is to follow God and His Son, Jesus Christ, ensuring that human leadership does not supersede divine authority.Matthew 15:9
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
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Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
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Jeremiah 10:23
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps.
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Galatians 1:9
As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel to you than that you have received, let him be accursed.
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4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... In all of Scripture, only the term is ever used in the following way: Ro 14:23:
Whatever is not of (4102) is ... "Faith is the response, wrought in man, by God ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k312. acher -- another
... another man, following, next, strange. From 'achar; properly, hinder; generally,
next, other, etc. -- (an-)other man, following, next, strange. ...
/hebrew/312.htm - 6k

1980. halak -- to go, come, walk
... follow (2), follow* (14), followed (2), followed* (21), following (1), following*
(5), follows ... fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-)faring man, X be ...
/hebrew/1980.htm - 8k

Following Hard after God
... In this divine "upholding" and human "following" there is no contradiction ... practice,
however, (that is, where God's previous working meets man's present response ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tozer/the pursuit of god/i following hard after god.htm

The Publisher Has Pleasure in Submitting the Following Extracts ...
... the following Extracts from recent Notices which have appeared of the Vols. already
issued:". Literary Gazette. Coleridge said, that for a man fully to ...
/.../young/youngs night thoughts/the publisher has pleasure in.htm

Or Take the Following Hymn, which Surely Embodies a Noble ...
... Or take the following hymn, which surely embodies a noble conception of the duty
and the aspirations of a Christian sovereign, and ... The common man may understand ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/or take the following hymn.htm

The Lone Man who Went Before
... Now, of course, in that first step, that great "emptying out" step, there can be
no following. There He is the Lone Man, unapproachable in the moral splendour ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/the lone man who went.htm

Upon Human Nature.
... What that is in man by which he is naturally a law to himself is explained in the
following words: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts ...
//christianbookshelf.org/butler/human nature/sermon ii iii upon human.htm

The Healing of the Lame Man at the Beautiful Gate
... the apostles and, as it was already evening, put them in prison until the following
day ... are being examined this day for a good deed done to a lame man, to find ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the healing of the lame.htm

There are in all Ten Categories which Can be Universally ...
... express; in created things they express divided being, in God, conjoined and united
being"in the following manner. When we name a substance, as man or God ...
/.../boethius/the trinity is one god not three gods/iv there are in all.htm

Is The Young Man Absalom Safe?
... "IS THE YOUNG MAN ABSALOM SAFE?". A SERMON. PREACHED IN THE CHURCH OF ST. ... PRICE
THREEPENCE. THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF. Cabinet and Carte-de-Visite Photographs. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/wright/is the young man absalom safe/title page.htm

Letter x. To Paul, an Old Man of Concordia.
... although his deathless state was changed for a mortal one, yet the sentence [128]
of man's curse was put ... Following their example, I set a price upon my praise. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter x to paul an.htm

And on the Following Day, the Fourth Day of the Week...
... And on the following day, the fourth day of the week, they brought Him at the ninth ...
as they were going along, Judas says to them: Lay hold of the man whom I ...
/.../unknown/the narrative of joseph of arimathaea/chapter 2 and on the.htm

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